Bubble AlGae

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lebloom

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Oct 4, 2001
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Does Bubble Algae kill off coraline algae? I've notice an increase in the bubble algae in my tank and the coraline has diminished underneath.
 

Khemul

Sea Bunny
Oct 14, 2010
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Well, algaes do compete for space, light and nutrients. If it covers the coralline then it could starve out and replace it.

The bubble algae is much better at the all around competition then coralline, so bubble algae will win.
 

fsn77

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Feb 22, 2006
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Bubble algae has always been a real irritant when I've had it. It's probably my least favorite alga to deal with, even though it can be relatively easy to remove manually.
As for your question, if it's growing on top of your coralline, it will definitely shade out the coralline and eventually kill it.
 

lebloom

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Oct 4, 2001
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Yeah, thats what has happened. I just can't get rid of the stuff. I've been picking at it all weekend. I've tried keeping an Emerald crab but they're sorta delicate and the 2 I've had, die out.
 

fsn77

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Feb 22, 2006
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I've not had the best of luck with emerald crabs, either. Out of the 4 I've tried at various times, only 2 did much as far as eating the bubble algae. The other 2 weren't interested in the bubble algae at all from what I can tell. Those 2 that did eat it did a great job at it though, and really got it in check in a short period of time.
 

ThatNewFishGuy

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May 4, 2010
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I just had some bubble algea in my tank. I was suprised at how firm the bubbles were, I had to really work at it to remove them. I thought they would just pop once I touched em.
 

greech

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May 13, 2009
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Popping them is not the best idea (wasn't sure if that is what you did). Best thing to do is try and roll them off the rock without popping them. If you have a tight cluster, take a piece if airline tubing and cut the end at an angle and siphon them out. Of course, if you can remove the rock and scrub them off outside the tank, even better :).
 

khmerspec

WanaBAhReefer
May 17, 2008
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Just as greech suggested, don't pop them. You'll just spread them instead. I didnt have to big an issue, because I was able to remove the rock it was on, pick it, and then throw in a bucket for a couple of weeks. I kept rerinsing it, incase any popped, to get rid of any possible seeds.
 
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